Voices for Justice
Peace Church has a vital commitment to working for justice. We are energized and heartened by hearing each other’s stories. Here are brief stories from members of our community to help us learn from each other while we expand our visions and hopes.
Alison Wood: “Don’t be afraid to talk to teenagers”
Working as a teacher wasn’t always Alison Wood’s vision. Although she had helped at day camps and in Sunday School in high school (and had a mother who worked in a school library), it wasn’t until college that she realized that teaching might be a good path for her....
Sara Carlson: A Guide for Love and Justice
When asked what she would most like to change in the world, Sara initially responded with a wry smile. “Everything!” She then focused on the issues that matter most deeply to her: the environment and immigration. She wishes our national parks were safe, that water was...
Benjamin Fena: Becoming the Change He Hopes For
Benjamin Fena will be sixteen years old in early March, and he has been thinking a lot about his commitments and his capacity. After attending a public elementary school, Benjamin decided he preferred home schooling. His parents, Libby and Andy, had a sense of his...
Angie Miller: Entertaining Angels
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 Angie has lived this passage throughout her life, with a deep commitment to “feed, clothe and house people living on the margins of...
JT Haines: Truth-Telling for a Sustainable Future
What social concerns or issues matter most deeply to you? What would you most like to change in our world? I think a lot about our economic system in general. I read a book last year called A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki in connection with a class I taught at...
Lisa Fitzpatrick: Doing Something About Climate Justice
Lisa Fitzpatrick: Doing Something About Climate JusticeLisa Fitzpatrick was raised in a rich tradition that wove together links to the American Revolution and a Finnish natural sensibility. She grew up immersed in the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula of...
Beth Bartlett: Bending the Arc Toward Healing, Harmony, and Justice
“Finding meaning in life, creating a just and peaceful world, healing and wholeness, and connection with the natural world have been the continual themes throughout my life.” For Beth Bartlett, the most pressing issue at this time is “climate change and all of the...
Jerry Cleveland: Justice through Listening, Relationship, and Bridge-Building
Jerry Cleveland: Justice Through Listening, Relationship and Bridge-BuildingFor Jerry Cleveland, the most pressing social justice issue right now is “the difficulty we have with communicating with each other. The polarization and pushing issues to opposite...
Geof Witrak: Generosity and Justice
Geof Witrak’s sense of social justice is grounded in his desire to “give until it feels good.” His life is shaped by generosity, engagement, and hope—values that were nurtured by his family and their roots in faith.Geof grew up around the shores of Lake Minnetonka,...
Cindy Macaulay: Shining her Light
Cindy Macaulay’s warm presence and friendly smile make people feel welcome at Peace Church. She is a quietly active person around Peace—helping with coffee hour, serving as a lay reader, coordinating shared ministries, participating in spiritual journey groups. As she...
Robin Davidson: Support on a Healing Journey
“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured” — B. K.S. Iyngar If you are ever at Peace Church on a Monday morning, you may see many of our people gathering in the Fireside Room for Robin Davidson’s Soma Yoga class, and then...
Jim Pospisil: Creating Harmony
Jim Pospisil believes that the connection between his work and justice boils down to one simple idea: “If you have a gift, it must be shared. Who am I to deny the possibility of love and beauty in this world?” As the music director at Peace Church, Jim shares his...